The defense minister was being treated for prostate cancer and a urinary tract infection, doctors say

(Maya Alleruzzo/Associated Press)

The defense minister was being treated for prostate cancer and a urinary tract infection, doctors say

LOLITA C. BALDOR, TARA COPP, SEUNG MIN KIM and ZEKE MILLER

January 9, 2024

Secretary of Defense Lloyd

J.

Austin

III

has prostate cancer, and his recent undisclosed hospitalization was for surgery and

later

to treat a urinary tract infection related to that surgery, his doctors said Tuesday.

The 70 year old

Austin

70,

was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in December. 22 and underwent surgery to treat the cancer. He developed the infection a week later. President

Joe

Biden and other senior administration officials were not told about his for days

cancer or

hospitalization

or his cancer

.

According to doctors, the cancer was discovered when Austin underwent regular screenings in early December. The

j

said he performed a minimally invasive surgical procedure and went home the next day. But on January 1, he reported nausea and severe abdominal, hip and leg pain due to the infection.

The

doctor’s office

said

this

prostate cancer was detected early and the prognosis is excellent.

The

cancer

revelation comes after days of

persistent

questions about Austin’s hospitalization and the reporting delays

key.key

leaders. And it raises more questions about the transparency and veracity of the

Defense

Department, for what

Past

said four days

Austinhe

What

initial

at Walter Reed for an elective medical procedure,

And

no prostate surgery.

Requested

Wednesday

about that choice of words, Major General Pat Ryder,

the

That’s what the Pentagon press secretary said

during a briefing on Tuesday,

it was developed in consultation with Austin’s physicians. When pressed about the delays in public notification, Ryder said: “Despite the frequency of prostate cancer, discussions about screening, treatment and support are often deeply personal and private.”

It was

Calm

Tuesday it is not clear how

the disease this

will influence Austin’s

work job,

travel or

other

public involvement in the future.

The lack of transparency about Austin’s hospitalization, including the failure to tell Biden and other top officials about it

or the reason for it

has led to sharp criticism for days. Several Republican lawmakers

even

said Austin should be impeached. And earlier Tuesday, the White House chief of staff instructed Cabinet members to notify his office if they were ever unable to perform their duties.

Dr. Johannes Maddox

medical director trauma,

and Dr. Gregorius Kastanje

van, director of the Center for Prostate Disease at

Walter Reed provided the first details of Austin’s prediction in a Pentagon statement. They said he was under anesthesia during the first surgery and when he went to the intensive care unit

on

By January 2, the infection had caused an intestinal backup and his stomach had to be emptied with a tube in his nose.

We expect a full recovery, although this may be a slow process, the doctors said. They noted that prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men.

affects 1 in 8 (among African American men, 1 in 6). and it affects 1 in 8 men and 1 in 6 African American men during their lifetime.

The Biden administration, reeling

learn from

Austin’s surprising illness

last week

is in the process of a policy review.

And

The Pentagon has done that

So

launched its own review.

White House Chief of Staff

Jeff Zients indicated in a memo to Cabinet secretaries that they had sent it

the White House Friday

each

existing

procedures for delegating authority in the event of incapacity or loss of communication

before Friday

. While the review is underway, he is requiring agencies to notify his office and the Office of Cabinet Affairs

at the White House

when an agency experiences or plans to experience a circumstance in which a Cabinet Head is unable to perform his or her duties.

Biden and other top officials were not told for days that Austin had been hospitalized

And

had transferred power to his deputy. A Pentagon spokesperson blamed the absence on a key staffer’s absence

sick

with the flu.

Agencies should ensure that delegations are issued when a Cabinet member travels to areas with limited or no access to communications, undergoes hospitalization or a medical procedure requiring general anesthesia, or otherwise in a circumstance where he or she may be unreachable, the statement said. memo from Zients. It also requires that agencies document when such a transfer of authority occurs and that the person fulfilling the acting role promptly contact relevant White House staff.

A copy of the memo was obtained by the Associated Press.

During Austin’s two hospitalizations, he transferred some of his powers to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, but she was not told why. The White House was recently notified that Austin was in the hospital

Thursday Jan. 4

and the public and Congress only heard about it

Friday, a day later.

The Pentagon released a memo on Monday about its internal review and expanded the circle of leaders who would be notified of any delegation of authorities by the Secretary of Defense to ensure proper and timely notification in the future the president and the White House is done. and, as appropriate, the United States Congress and the American public.

In the future, every time authority is transferred, a broader group of officials will do so

So

To be notified,

includingto include

the Pentagon General Counsel, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commanders, Service Secretaries, the Service Chiefs, the White House Situation Room, and the senior staff of the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

spot_imgspot_img

Hot Topics

Related Articles